Microbial biofuel cell for production of renewable energy

Abstract

This research aimed to possible improvement of the efficiency of microbial biofuel cells while 9,10-phenanthrenequinone (PQ) and yeast cells modified with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MW-CNTs) were used. In this study, the viability of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells, affected by MW-CNTs, relative growth and relative death rates of yeast cells were evaluated. Some observable effect, done by the MW-CNTs, upon the incubation of the yeast cells was determined. Also, the evaluation of toxicity and some electrochemical analysis were done [1]. It was found that biofuel cell, in which PQ/MW-CNT modified anode was used, generated maximal power for PQ/MW-CNT at the load of 8.6 MΩ, and 70 mM glucose concentration was 113 nW/cm2, while for PQ maximal power was 1.63 nW/cm2, i.e. for PQ/MW-CNT power density was 69 times higher (fig. 1). Fig. 1. Generated power dependence on potential, (a) PQ- and (b) PQ/MW-CNT modified graphite as an anode. Therefore, we predict that the MW-CNTs can be applied for the modification of yeast cells to improve electrical charge transfer through the yeast cell membrane and/or the cell wall